SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Those who couldn't get enough of last year's boys basketball district final between John Hay and Lake Catholic got their wish Thursday night, as the two will meet Saturday in the Ashtabula Division II district final.

The second-seeded Hornets reached the final by knocking off third-seeded West Geauga, 69-31, while top-seeded Lake Catholic eked out a 54-52 win against fourth-seeded University School.

Up, 53-50, things appeared to be under control when Mark Baniewicz grabbed a rebound and was fouled after a missed free throw by Luke Vadas with 2.3 seconds left.

But Baniewicz was called for a technical foul for elbowing Kory Pearson in the face. Baniewicz split the pair of free throws, while Jordan Barham (22 points, eight rebounds) rang true on both technicals to give US the ball at midcourt.

Black inbounded to Sam Bentz (17 points), who immediately gave it back before Black's shot clanged off the rim.

"We didn't play as well as we could have, but because of our schedule, we found a way to win," said Lake Catholic coach Mark Chicone. "We had four seniors on the floor who had all been there before. When it came down to it, they showed enough poise to win."

That poise wasn't lost on Joe Vuyancih (19 points). Up by as many as 11, Lake Catholic, which never trailed, watched the Preppers (14-9) systematically chip away at their fourth-quarter lead.

Vuyancih, who finished 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, was 6-of-6 in the crucial fourth to keep US at bay.

"I have all the confidence in our guys," Chicone said. "We wanted him [Vuyancih] there, and he was getting there and making it. A lot of that came from experience."

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